12-11-21 – Preview – Kidderminster Harriers Vs AFC Telford Utd

Preview: Phil Lench

After the euphoria of beating Grimsby Town in the FA Cup last Saturday it’s now back to the meat and drink of the league and a big chance to get back into the play-off places. Tomorrows visitors are the struggling local side AFC Telford Utd and with it a possible win and the opportunity to climb up to fourth place in the table.

That 1st round Cup game last week would be hard to beat for excitement after we matched our higher ranked visitors blow for blow. Although it took an Ashley Hemmings penalty to decide the game it would have been no more than we deserved and it gave us another winnable home game against FC Halifax Town in the next round. That game is a month away so until then we need to get points on board starting tomorrow.

We’ll have to do that without Nyal Bell (not that we’ve ever really used him) after he was loaned to Curzon Ashton yesterday for an initial one month. He has never been given the chance to show what he could do for us although he did come on as a sub at Sporting Khalsa and scored twice in the thirty minutes he was on the pitch. To be honest I can’t really see him returning to Aggborough permanently and he’ll possibly be released come January. 

We’ll still be without Lewis Montrose but the news is that Joe Foulkes is now in light training so could be back before Christmas. Cliff Moyo can’t be too far away either. During the Grimsby game Alex Penny took a bad knock that took a while to settle down enough for him to run again but with no defensive substitute on the bench he had to play through it. At least we’ll have Geraldo Bajrami back after he served his one game suspension last week. 

Telford are likely to be without injured striker Elliott Durrell and midfielder Dominic McHale picked up a knee in training and will be assessed before the game. Defenders Saul Shotton (on loan from West Bromwich Albion) and Theo Streete are both suspended. Shane has more information about injuries in his section down below.

This is a game that, on paper, we should get something positive from but as is the norm with local derby games they usually end up as scoreless draws. Let’s hope that’s not he case tomorrow.

Photo © KHFC

Teams:

Harriers from:

Simpson, Emery, Richards, Cameron, Penny, Bajrami, Lowe, Austin, Lissimore, Bonds, Carrington, Martin, Freemantle, Clayton-Phillips, Tolley, Hemmings, Morgan-Smith, J White, Sterling-James.

AFC Telford Utd from:

Griffiths, Scott, Streete, Roberts, Shotton, Lilly, Sparrow, R White, Birch, Berkoe, Bood, Sweeney, Jed Abbey, Jez Abbey, Ravenhill, Byrne, Walker, Antwi, Bange, McHale, Bennett, Williams, Durrell, Daniels, Oswell, Hamilton, Bower.

Referee: Mr Richard Holmes. Preston

Shanes Opposition Stats Pack:

Away from home in the league: They’ve lost every away game bar 1: Blyth 2-0, Alfreton 3-1, Darlington 3-0, Spennymoor 1-0, Boston 4-1, Gloucester 2-2, BPA 3-2

Goals (all competitions): Elliott Durrell – 4, Jason Oswell – 3, Dominic McHale, Jack Byrne – 2, Kai Williams, Theo Streete – 1.

Dennis Greene is the manager but the club are still looking for a new one, according to the chairman. So what is he then?

1st year pro Bradley Bood played for Stoke U23s the other week.

Saul Shotton (WBA Loanee) and Theo Streete both CBs, both suspended. Durrell expected to be out, Dominic McHale 50/50 at best. Brendon Daniels returned from injury in the 2nd game of the season then broke down seven minutes after coming on so he’s out still. Liam Ravenhill (son of Ricky, on loan from Doncaster Rovers) picked up a knock between 30th October and 6th November and missed the BPA game. No word on that.

The Squad (appearances are starts + sub, includes both league and FAC):

Goalkeepers: Russell Griffiths (P13, conceded 23 of which 1 was a penalty), Will Huffer (P0), George Scott (P0, on loan at Shifnal Town)

Defence: Kevin Berkoe (on loan from Salford City, P8), Arlen Birch (P7), Bradley Bood (P3), Kory Roberts (on loan from Bromley, P3), Lewis Earl (on loan from Stockport County, P?), Zac Lilly (P6, sent off vs Brackley in September), Saul Shotton (P2, on loan from WBA. Suspended – sent off vs BPA), Ross White (P13), Theo Streete (P10, 1 goal. Suspended – sent off vs Gloucester City), Brendon Daniels (P1, injured)

Midfield: Jed Abbey (P8), Jez Abbey (P0, on loan at Rushall Olympic), Cameron Antwi (P6, on loan from Blackpool), Kyle Bennett (P11), Jack Byrne (P7, 2 goals. Ex Harrier), Dominic McHale (P11, 2 goals, injured), Liam Ravenhill (P2, on loan from Doncaster Rovers, injured), Tom Sparrow (P4, on loan from Stoke City), Adam Walker (P13)

Attack: Matt Barnes-Homer (P2, ex Harrier), Ewan Bange (P0, on loan from Blackpool), Jason Oswell (P12, 3 goals, sent off vs Chorley, Kai Williams (P13, 1 goal), Elliott Durrell (P12, 4 goals, injured), Harry Bower (P0)

Talk about the game here

Links to AFC Telford Utd websites here

Find Pubs around Kidderminster here